Traffic Congestion and Highway Construction

[videtur quam contuor]

Someone is driving fast. The cross country "Cannonball" record was broken this month. The main impediments to speed records are traffic and enforcement. Both are far below any time in decades.. Thus the record run. These yahoos/heroes may have used technology used by emergency vehicles to change lights green, and also escort vehicles to scout the route, plus so very much technology, equipment and devices to make this happen. Audi A8 with special large fuel tank and four men, two driving, two working the equipment.

 

https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1127765_empty-roads-set-stage-for-new-cannonball-run-cross-country-record-of-26-hours-38-minutes

 

Edit:  Damn I hate when my post goes to the top of the next page and cuts the segue from previous content.

Edited May 1, 2020 by tarhoosier

[nyxmike]

I wonder how people will feel about widening I-77 to three lanes north of 150 but south of 150 they have only two general purpose lanes and toll lanes... seems kind of odd honestly. I'm not against tolled express lanes, but you'd think they would have prioritized the extra lane where the population is. I still think they should have built an additional general purpose lane with the toll lanes north of 485.

[Matthew.Brendan]

Modern cars are a century of refinement on the same basic idea. They will effortlessly hold 100+ mph and modern highways, especially when not at capacity, will easily accommodate such travel.

They really are pinnacles of engineering while effectively disguising (noise / vibration / etc) the reality of what a split second of mistake can result in. Compare riding a roller coaster at 60-70 mph and really feeling exposed to what that speed is like, compared to your soft quiet bubble of a car ride at 80+ mph.

Even in disaster, the safety parts are just as impressive. Any modern car is a cocoon of airbags and a frame designed to absorb impact and crumple which allow people to walk away from what used to be truly horrific wrecks.

 

[videtur quam contuor]

My father told me (several times) that his greatest experience of speed was a model T Ford on a gravel road at 30 MPH. Slipping and sliding, pocketa-pockety of gravel like gunshots all around, windshield tilted open, engine roaring, wind all around. 

[Skyybutter]

16 hours ago, KJHburg said:

has anyone noticed that people are driving extremely fast these days on the metro Interstates. I was going 15 over and I was passed like I was standing still.  Did I miss an Governors executive order lifting all speed limits?  anyone else notice this?  

yes indeed. 85 from 77 to CCMills has been a bit scary. Motorcycles have typically driven insanely fast through there but on numerous occasions lately I have witnessed cars seemingly racing each other. Traffic has been cruising at probably 78-82mph, so these cars were easily going 95-105.....

[kermit]

Its a trend everywhere in the US, fatal car accidents are way up in the pandemic due to speed.

Speed limiters on scooters seem kinda silly now...

[JRNYP2C]

21 hours ago, KJHburg said:

has anyone noticed that people are driving extremely fast these days on the metro Interstates. I was going 15 over and I was passed like I was standing still.  Did I miss an Governors executive order lifting all speed limits?  anyone else notice this?  

I had to go from Belmont to University City on Monday, and even though I was doing around 60-65 in the middle lane, there was one jack-hole who sped around me and people on my left to get past us and go over to the left.  He summarily put his arm out the window and gave us the finger point to the right.  Basically telling us that we were going too slow.  Since I was not expecting much traffic and more police presence, I was keeping it safe.  But there were people FLYING by as if we were sitting still.  That was first time I have been on any of the interstates since 3/17 and the longest trip I have made since that day too.  I'm not taking any chances with getting a ticket.

[nicholas]

On 4/30/2020 at 9:00 PM, KJHburg said:

has anyone noticed that people are driving extremely fast these days on the metro Interstates. I was going 15 over and I was passed like I was standing still.  Did I miss an Governors executive order lifting all speed limits?  anyone else notice this?  

Interstate speed limits are waaaaaay too low, almost to a point of ridiculousness.  We have speed limits based on vehicular limits from many decades ago, back when many cars were dangerous to drive at speeds in excess of 75mph or so, coupled with interstates that are engineered to comfortably accept higher and higher speeds (which, of course, are discouraged by rarely-enforced arbitrary speed limits).  Roads that have multiple directions of travel, intersections, pedestrians/cyclists, etc are one thing, and inner-city interstates probably shouldn't become Autobahns, but limited-access freeways with divided directions of travel??? Come on....

But to answer your question, yes I've noticed this, and um....may or may not have been partaking in it.

[CLT>]

On 4/30/2020 at 3:48 PM, Third Strike said:

 

 

Yeah, it’s the southern section. Though honestly, I would rather see a spur off the Blue Line, down South Tryon towards Steele Creek, then expanding any part of South Tryon. 

Imagine if they just spent the money to connect all those neighborhoods to each other instead of needlessly funneling all the traffic to 49. Probably cheaper too.

It gets congested there, but I didn't think it warranted six lanes?

[CLT2014]

NCDOT going to be halting lots of projects across the state due to cash mismanagement and falling below the minimum cash balance required by law. 

"With state tax revenue cut sharply by the coronavirus outbreak, the N.C. Department of Transportation now has less cash in its accounts than it is required to maintain by state law.The dwindling cash balance means the DOT cannot enter new contracts for supplies and equipment or begin new highway projects. It’s the first time the DOT has failed to maintain an adequate balance since the General Assembly set the minimum more than 10 years ago. The DOT estimates that it will receive about $300 million less in state tax revenue in March, April and May because people are traveling and spending less during the COVID-19 outbreak. The department has already laid off more than 350 temporary and contract workers and delayed the start of about 88 major construction projects."

https://www.greensboro.com/news/local_news/as-ncdot-cash-runs-low-employees-and-projects-are-in-jeopardy/article_01a07641-9d6f-57f1-89e0-b6941b792fd6.html

[tozmervo]

41 minutes ago, CLT2014 said:

NCDOT going to be halting lots of projects across the state due to cash mismanagement and falling below the minimum cash balance required by law. 

"With state tax revenue cut sharply by the coronavirus outbreak, the N.C. Department of Transportation now has less cash in its accounts than it is required to maintain by state law.The dwindling cash balance means the DOT cannot enter new contracts for supplies and equipment or begin new highway projects. It’s the first time the DOT has failed to maintain an adequate balance since the General Assembly set the minimum more than 10 years ago. The DOT estimates that it will receive about $300 million less in state tax revenue in March, April and May because people are traveling and spending less during the COVID-19 outbreak. The department has already laid off more than 350 temporary and contract workers and delayed the start of about 88 major construction projects."

https://www.greensboro.com/news/local_news/as-ncdot-cash-runs-low-employees-and-projects-are-in-jeopardy/article_01a07641-9d6f-57f1-89e0-b6941b792fd6.html

My understanding was that any work underway already would be completed, as that money was already set aside to complete the contract. Any new work (probably including projects in design) would be halted. 

[Scribe]

On 5/1/2020 at 9:16 PM, kermit said:

Its a trend everywhere in the US, fatal car accidents are way up in the pandemic due to speed.

I am curious about your sources on this... this article says the exact opposite... https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-pandemic-us-california-michigan-illinois-fatal-car-crashes/

unless it's the other 24 states that CBS did not reach out to.

Quote

CBS News reached out to 26 states with a historically high number of traffic deaths, and found that fatal car crashes on California freeways dropped a stunning 84%

 

[kermit]

1 hour ago, Scribe said:

I am curious about your sources on this... this article says the exact opposite... https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-pandemic-us-california-michigan-illinois-fatal-car-crashes/

unless it's the other 24 states that CBS did not reach out to.

 

https://usa.streetsblog.org/2020/04/09/covid-19-cuts-car-crashes-but-what-about-crash-rates/

Quote

The number of car crashes is indeed plummeting due to lower traffic volumes on American roads, but the rate of car crashes is actually up in many cities — as are the injury and fatality rates for both drivers and vulnerable users.

https://www.wbjournal.com/article/fatal-mass-car-crash-rate-doubled-in-april-despite-lockdown
 

 

Edited May 7, 2020 by kermit

[KJHburg]

while hardly no one was looking this project the widening and additional express lanes from 77 S to Hwy 74 on I-485 is progressing greatly.  Bridge supports in at US 521 in Ballantyne no photos today and bridge work at John St in Matthews as well (last photo) .   These photos are from Rea Rd to John St in Matthews.  Moving along a good clip.

 

[KJHburg]

I talked about it first here now the Observer is writing about the speedways we call interstates.  122 mph on I-85 in Gastonia, 94 mph from a Georgian etc.

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/coronavirus/article242631856.html

[CarolinaDaydreamin]

On 5/5/2020 at 9:47 AM, nicholas said:

Interstate speed limits are waaaaaay too low, almost to a point of ridiculousness.  We have speed limits based on vehicular limits from many decades ago, back when many cars were dangerous to drive at speeds in excess of 75mph or so, coupled with interstates that are engineered to comfortably accept higher and higher speeds (which, of course, are discouraged by rarely-enforced arbitrary speed limits).  Roads that have multiple directions of travel, intersections, pedestrians/cyclists, etc are one thing, and inner-city interstates probably shouldn't become Autobahns, but limited-access freeways with divided directions of travel??? Come on....

But to answer your question, yes I've noticed this, and um....may or may not have been partaking in it.

And to top it off, I have the same speed limit in a Tesla which can go 168MPH as a 40,000lb tractor trailer. Explain that...

And also 94 mph might not even be a pull over in suburban Atlanta. I-85 in Gwinnett and GA 400 (the alpharetta Autobahn), traffic speeds easily are above 85 not during rush hour.

Edited May 13, 2020 by CarolinaDaydreamin

[nicholas]

2 hours ago, CarolinaDaydreamin said:

And to top it off, I have the same speed limit in a Tesla which can go 168MPH as a 40,000lb tractor trailer. Explain that...

And also 94 mph might not even be a pull over in suburban Atlanta. I-85 in Gwinnett and GA 400 (the alpharetta Autobahn), traffic speeds easily are above 85 not during rush hour.

Unfortunately, until drivers put their phones down, stop camping in the left lanes, start using their turn signals, and learn how to merge, we'll be stuck with arbitrary low speed limits based on vehicle, tire, and road technologies from 50+ years ago.

A user on another forum I'm on (who coincidentally also has a Tesla) drives between Raleigh and Wilmington regularly.  He said that the 130-mile stretch of I-40 between RDU and ILM has been an Autobahn, and that in many spots, the average speed of traffic is around 110 mph! Most of it is so flat and straight that a 100 mph speed limit would be entirely reasonable imo.

Edited May 13, 2020 by nicholas

[videtur quam contuor]

My car dealer says the top speed of my car is governed at the factory by the speed rating of the tires chosen by the maker, minus 2-3 mph. ~145mph in my case. Theoretical top speed would require ECU adjustments and other factors that would eliminate manufacturer responsibility for any claim of any kind, repair or damage.

Edited May 13, 2020 by tarhoosier

[kermit]

funny how no one hesitates to limit scooters to 15mph and yet....

[nicholas]

2 minutes ago, kermit said:

funny how no one hesitates to limit scooters to 15mph and yet....

Scooters could also be incorporated into my bike lane proposal on the pedestrian shaming thread.

[cowboy_wilhelm]

Looking at the cars and tires in a Walmart parking lot, I'm amazed that most of them got there and can exceed 35 mph without something falling off.

[kermit]

Interesting new study from Ireland shows that new highway (motorway) construction leads to a 10% increase in burglary rates in nearby neighborhoods. This is a particularly interesting finding since many anti-transit activist try to associate the presence of transit with crime, despite there being no evidence to support that particular belief.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jors.12491?campaign=wolacceptedarticle

 

Edited May 15, 2020 by kermit

[Hushpuppy321]

I recently completed a long weekend visit to Nashville (TN) and I’d like to take my ‘hat off’ and tip it to Nashville as well as Charlotte!  What I found is that even though both cities are growing, Charlotte is very green & lovely due to its magnificent Tree Canopy and purposeful Streetscape Trees.  I hadn’t fully appreciated that before until visiting Nashville.  I did not see many Streetscaped areas in Nashville even though I was all over most of the town.  Also Charlotte’s secondary roads are very well connected and does handle a very good amount of (formerly rush hour, pre-pandemic) traffic.  

Nashville’s urban environment was impressive in the sense that their Center City Area (Downtown, The Gulch, West End Ave, etc.) was honestly more of a ‘Big City’ feel than Charlotte due to the terrain & lesser Tree Canopy.  You could physically see more buildings over a vast area giving the sense of something big while Charlotte (in a lot of areas) has a more covered, intimate, small town feel bc you can’t always immediately see everything else around you due to topography & treescape/tree canopy.  Charlotte does have multiple streets Uptown that have the ‘Canyon’ effect due to its tall buildings & compact size which is indeed impressive and very rare for any Southern City to have.  Nashville has an incredible amount of decent sized buildings under construction all at once and an enviable Cumberland River (with Major Bridges) snaking through Downtown but not one street with any Canyon Effect feeling - Just more spread out.

Nashville Traffic is much worse than Charlotte (Verified by several people I know who lived in Charlotte and now live in Nashville) but I believe that’s because Of a secondary system that not as robust as CLT but also they’re at the confluence of many Interstates.  Also - When I was in The Green Hills Neighborhood, several roads (Secondary/Tertiary Roads) were disconnected/disjointed causing me confusion & having to hit main roads just to go a few blocks or a mile or two.  Charlotte DOT/Planners did a very good job of connecting streets (Even smaller residential ones) and the Connectivity is the best I’ve seen anywhere in NC.  

Just my two cents.

Edited May 19, 2020 by Hushpuppy321

[KJHburg]

I go to Nashville once a year (usually when it is the coldest and or wettest but I digress)   IF any city in America needs a complete bypass it is Nashville.  all the interstates do converge on downtown creating daytime traffic jams every day and not just in rush hours.  They have told me there (on their UP) they can not complete the 840 loop around Nashville due to rock and hills.  (I say do what it takes tunnels, blasting, etc) Too much truck and general traffic moves from the upper Midwest through Nashville to Atlanta and towards Florida.   They desperately need an alternative intown too  Bus Rapid Transit light rail something to get all the those commuters into downtown not to mention the millions of tourists that visit.  NC knows how to big highways (maybe not keep them in budget or on time) but build them better than TN and that goes for their secondary roads.  Plus NC DOT is more willing to try out new things like diverging diamonds (TN getting their first now), CFI intersections, toll roads, express lanes etc.

https://www.ncdot.gov/initiatives-policies/Transportation/safety-mobility/Pages/default.aspx

Highways in the south rated top tier states VA, FL, GA and NC  lower tier states and don't do a good job TN and SC.  

[kickazzz2000]

On 5/1/2020 at 5:43 PM, JRNYP2C said:

I had to go from Belmont to University City on Monday, and even though I was doing around 60-65 in the middle lane, there was one jack-hole who sped around me and people on my left to get past us and go over to the left.  He summarily put his arm out the window and gave us the finger point to the right.  Basically telling us that we were going too slow.  Since I was not expecting much traffic and more police presence, I was keeping it safe.  But there were people FLYING by as if we were sitting still.  That was first time I have been on any of the interstates since 3/17 and the longest trip I have made since that day too.  I'm not taking any chances with getting a ticket.

Sorry that was rude of me.